Red Cross sponsoring car giveaway contest

To thank its donors, the American Red Cross is sponsoring a "Racing Red, White and Vroom" contest.

The organization will give away a 2011 Ford Fiesta, which has been donated by the Ford Motor Co.

Donors can register online at redcrossracing.com. The deadline for entering is Nov. 1.

Also during this time, people who give a platelet donation can record it online and receive points that can be exchanged for prizes.

The Red Cross Racing is designed to encourage NASCAR fans to donate blood, says Kimberly Berrier, the senior donor recruitment representative with the Carolinas Blood Service Region, of which Wayne County is a part.

The region provides blood to 103 hospitals. In order to do this, the Red Cross must have 1,600 donors giving blood and platelets each weekday.

Donors can give blood every 56 days. They must be at least 17, or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health.

For more information about the contest, call the local Red Cross at 735-7201.